Chapter 15: The beginning of the end.
"No! I refuse!" The voice of Taiyoryu is just loud enough to carry over that of his Shireikan, Tengoku. Considering how quiet he always is, this is quite an outburst for him.
"Taiyoryu-san." Tengoku says, "Be reasonable."
"I am being reasonable." he says, his tone cold enough it even put Kenshin on edge. "You are not sending my daughter in against Atarashiikami."
"What would you suggest, then, baka?" Sano says roughly.
Taiyoryu stares coldly at Sano. "Send me instead. For all my daughters skills, she's still no match for me. If she's no match for me, then Atarashiikami will destroy her."
Tejina-shi shakes his head. "That's what Atarashiikami will expect. He will design his spells specifically for you. If someone else goes, there's a strong chance his spells won't work on them."
"Taiyoryu-san, you know he's right." Shudoshi says.
"She'll still need help for the physical combat." the darkly cloaked figure insists.
"Send Kenshin-san." Yahiko says. "I bet he could even beat your Akumu, here." he jerks a thumb towards Taiyoryu.
The Akumu bristles at that. Not for the challenge of his skill, for the fact that the brat was putting his daughter in harms way.
"Sorry, Yahiko-chan." the worried father says. "With Kenshin-sans precious 'no-kill policy', he won't be able to get the job done."
Sanosuke laughs. "Do you realize that everybody that has ever said that has had to eat their words?"
Taiyoryu growls. "And what will I be doing? Standing cleaning the yard?"
"So, that's it." Kaoru says. "You're angry that someone else will be doing the dangerous stuff."
"No. I'm angry because my daughter is being sent to do my job."
"Maa, maa, Taiyoryu-san." Tengoku says. "Are you ready to hear the rest of the plan?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Akuma Ryoshi and Kenshin-Gumi approach the newly raised fortress, everyone stands in awe of the strangely beautiful structure.
Made of strange white rock, there are small gray patterns that are part of the rock, giving it a strangely pleasing look. Towering precipices stand immensely tall, strange plant growth all along their incredible heights. Coloured glass is present in every window, often cut into some design showing strange creatures slaying men. The courtyard is immense, easily large enough to house the entire of the Kamiya dojo several times over.
"I.." Sanosuke says, "I don't remember this being here. During the revolution, we often camped near here."
"It wasn't." Tengoku says. "Atarashiikami raises one everywhere he goes. It's an ego thing."
As they gape at the incredible workmanship, movement to each side of the courtyard catches their attention. To the left, strange creatures, much larger than anything Kenshin-Gumi has seen thus far.
Black as the darkest night and half again as tall as Sanosuke, these beasts are the things of nightmares, indeed. Pure white hair rests atop of rock-like black skin. Its eyes, dead and devoid of pupils, are the same white of its hair. Long, jagged teeth line their mouths, as they emit a howl that sent shivers through those assembled to fight them. Long, arms, thick as a mature tree, end in three large claws. Black, scaly wings rest from their backs as a tail swings gently to an unheard rhythm behind them.
From the other side, much less scary in appearance, but no less lethal if given a chance, several human warriors wander into view. They seem to scan the heroes assembled and breath a sigh of relief. The two that had chased them from the village weren't here.
"Sanosuke-san, Kaoru-san, Yahiko-san. Can you handle those warriors?" Tengoku asks.
"Hai." Kaoru says confidently.
"Oi, this will be boring." Sanosuke complains.
"Hai." Yahiko says, less confidently.
"Good, Tejina-shi, Shudoshi, and I will keep these things busy while you go break your new toys. But, hurry back. I'm sure we'll use the help."
He turns to look at Kenshin, Taiyoryu, and Yoake. It's obvious that Taiyoryu still doesn't like the plan, but he finally agreed to it. "Why are you still here? Oisogi!!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenshin, Taiyoryu, and Yoake charge through the immense keep, putting down what ever minor resistance that they happen across. None of them were really sure where they were going, but, where ever it was, they had better get there fast.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaoru looks at Yahiko's face and sees the reason for the lack of confidence. Oh... Yahiko-san's still worried about killing that creature on accident. "Yahiko-san. No holding back, but keep control." she says, hoping to snap him out of his rut.
"Hai, hai"
Kaoru looks over to Sanosuke, hoping that he could snap Yahiko out of it. Going into a fight with distractions like that often winds up fatal. Then, they have no more time to speak, as the warriors charge in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three members of Akuma Ryoshi left outside exchange glances at each other.
"Oi, Tengoku-sama!" Tejina-shi yells. "I want a raise when we're done here!"
Laughing gently among themselves, those accused of being demons by Sanosuke drew their weapons and prepared for the onslaught of the real demons.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Megumi sat atop of the carriage, looking around. From where they were at, both her and Meiyomi could see parts of the battle. They could see the strange creatures coming out, as they expected. They also noticed the human warriors coming around the corner, and that there were less of them than was expected. Megumi took this as a good sign as she looked over to Meiyomi. As they sat waiting, they also sat, prepared. Should any of them be injured, Megumi planned to be there as fast as she could run to do what she could.
"No! I refuse!" The voice of Taiyoryu is just loud enough to carry over that of his Shireikan, Tengoku. Considering how quiet he always is, this is quite an outburst for him.
"Taiyoryu-san." Tengoku says, "Be reasonable."
"I am being reasonable." he says, his tone cold enough it even put Kenshin on edge. "You are not sending my daughter in against Atarashiikami."
"What would you suggest, then, baka?" Sano says roughly.
Taiyoryu stares coldly at Sano. "Send me instead. For all my daughters skills, she's still no match for me. If she's no match for me, then Atarashiikami will destroy her."
Tejina-shi shakes his head. "That's what Atarashiikami will expect. He will design his spells specifically for you. If someone else goes, there's a strong chance his spells won't work on them."
"Taiyoryu-san, you know he's right." Shudoshi says.
"She'll still need help for the physical combat." the darkly cloaked figure insists.
"Send Kenshin-san." Yahiko says. "I bet he could even beat your Akumu, here." he jerks a thumb towards Taiyoryu.
The Akumu bristles at that. Not for the challenge of his skill, for the fact that the brat was putting his daughter in harms way.
"Sorry, Yahiko-chan." the worried father says. "With Kenshin-sans precious 'no-kill policy', he won't be able to get the job done."
Sanosuke laughs. "Do you realize that everybody that has ever said that has had to eat their words?"
Taiyoryu growls. "And what will I be doing? Standing cleaning the yard?"
"So, that's it." Kaoru says. "You're angry that someone else will be doing the dangerous stuff."
"No. I'm angry because my daughter is being sent to do my job."
"Maa, maa, Taiyoryu-san." Tengoku says. "Are you ready to hear the rest of the plan?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Akuma Ryoshi and Kenshin-Gumi approach the newly raised fortress, everyone stands in awe of the strangely beautiful structure.
Made of strange white rock, there are small gray patterns that are part of the rock, giving it a strangely pleasing look. Towering precipices stand immensely tall, strange plant growth all along their incredible heights. Coloured glass is present in every window, often cut into some design showing strange creatures slaying men. The courtyard is immense, easily large enough to house the entire of the Kamiya dojo several times over.
"I.." Sanosuke says, "I don't remember this being here. During the revolution, we often camped near here."
"It wasn't." Tengoku says. "Atarashiikami raises one everywhere he goes. It's an ego thing."
As they gape at the incredible workmanship, movement to each side of the courtyard catches their attention. To the left, strange creatures, much larger than anything Kenshin-Gumi has seen thus far.
Black as the darkest night and half again as tall as Sanosuke, these beasts are the things of nightmares, indeed. Pure white hair rests atop of rock-like black skin. Its eyes, dead and devoid of pupils, are the same white of its hair. Long, jagged teeth line their mouths, as they emit a howl that sent shivers through those assembled to fight them. Long, arms, thick as a mature tree, end in three large claws. Black, scaly wings rest from their backs as a tail swings gently to an unheard rhythm behind them.
From the other side, much less scary in appearance, but no less lethal if given a chance, several human warriors wander into view. They seem to scan the heroes assembled and breath a sigh of relief. The two that had chased them from the village weren't here.
"Sanosuke-san, Kaoru-san, Yahiko-san. Can you handle those warriors?" Tengoku asks.
"Hai." Kaoru says confidently.
"Oi, this will be boring." Sanosuke complains.
"Hai." Yahiko says, less confidently.
"Good, Tejina-shi, Shudoshi, and I will keep these things busy while you go break your new toys. But, hurry back. I'm sure we'll use the help."
He turns to look at Kenshin, Taiyoryu, and Yoake. It's obvious that Taiyoryu still doesn't like the plan, but he finally agreed to it. "Why are you still here? Oisogi!!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenshin, Taiyoryu, and Yoake charge through the immense keep, putting down what ever minor resistance that they happen across. None of them were really sure where they were going, but, where ever it was, they had better get there fast.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaoru looks at Yahiko's face and sees the reason for the lack of confidence. Oh... Yahiko-san's still worried about killing that creature on accident. "Yahiko-san. No holding back, but keep control." she says, hoping to snap him out of his rut.
"Hai, hai"
Kaoru looks over to Sanosuke, hoping that he could snap Yahiko out of it. Going into a fight with distractions like that often winds up fatal. Then, they have no more time to speak, as the warriors charge in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three members of Akuma Ryoshi left outside exchange glances at each other.
"Oi, Tengoku-sama!" Tejina-shi yells. "I want a raise when we're done here!"
Laughing gently among themselves, those accused of being demons by Sanosuke drew their weapons and prepared for the onslaught of the real demons.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Megumi sat atop of the carriage, looking around. From where they were at, both her and Meiyomi could see parts of the battle. They could see the strange creatures coming out, as they expected. They also noticed the human warriors coming around the corner, and that there were less of them than was expected. Megumi took this as a good sign as she looked over to Meiyomi. As they sat waiting, they also sat, prepared. Should any of them be injured, Megumi planned to be there as fast as she could run to do what she could.